Month: July 2018

Blog Tour: Do No Harm by LV Hay

Today I am interviewing LV Hay on the blog tour for Do No Harm! The publisher is Orenda Books.

Book Description:

Till death do us part…

After leaving her marriage to jealous, possessive oncologist Maxwell, Lily and her six-year-old son have a second chance at happiness with headteacher Sebastian. Kind but vulnerable, Sebastian is the polar opposite of Maxwell, and the perfect match for Lily. After a whirlwind romance, they marry, and that’s when things start to go wrong…

Maxwell returns to the scene, determined to win back his family, and events soon spiral out of control. Lily and Sebastian find themselves not only fighting for their relationship, but also their lives…

Chilling, dark and terrifying, Do No Harm is a taut psychological thriller and a study of obsession, from one of the most exciting new voices in crime fiction.

Buy Do No Harm Now:
Amazon US

Amazon UK


JRR (Jessica’s Reading Room): Tell us a little about yourself.

Hi! I’m Lucy V Hay, also known as ‘LV Hay’ (a wily disguise, I’m sure you will agree). I’m a novelist, script editor and blogger who helps writers. I live in Devon, UK with my husband, three kids, five cats and a bunch of African Land Snails.

JRR: Nice to meet you LV!  (Yes, the name is a brilliant disguise! 😉 ) Did you always want to become an author?

Yes! I absolutely did. My mum had a big bookcase on the landing in the house where I grew up. I had to go past it every time I went to the loo. I saw everyone’s names on the spines and thought it must be the COOLEST thing to have your name on the book. I still do! Sometimes I look at my bookcase and see my name there and I still can’t believe it.

JRR: And look at you now: You have written several books!  I’m sure your younger self would be so excited at what you have accomplished!  

Who was the most influential author you read when you were growing up? Did his/her writings influence you to want to become an author?

I was a big Enid Blyton fan growing up. She was massively prolific, but I feel fairly safe saying I read all of her books, even the obscure ones like The Six Bad Boys. Though I didn’t know why at the time, having studied the craft since, I understand now what I loved about her books: 1) her tight and polished plotting. The set ups and pay offs are seamless and 2) her larger-than-life characters. Mallory Towers was my favourite series of hers and even though I read the books twenty five years ago, I still remember them all: our heroine, Darrell; Sally, Darrell’s level-headed best friend; Felicity, Darrell’s younger sister; Gwendoline, the form’s spoilt martyr; Alicia, who is sharp tongued, competitive and intelligent (and my fave!); Mary-Lou, small and timid, but very kind-hearted; Irene, scatter-brained music and maths genius; Belinda, scatter-brained artistic genius; Jean, shrewd and straightforward, and Wilhelmina (Bill), completely horse-mad. It was so great to read such an eclectic mix of female characters!

JRR: Who is your favorite author as an adult? Who inspires you?

Oh goodness, I couldn’t decide on just ONE! I love domestic noir, so authors like Paula Daly, Sharon Bolton, Belinda Bauer and Gillian Flynn are way up there for me. I also enjoy the work of horror masters like Stephen King, Clive Barker and Joe Hill. I also really enjoy literary fiction, so have been loving the work of Celeste Ng, Matt Bondurant and Kit De Waal lately. Really, I love a good story, well told and am up for finding it.

JRR: There are too many authors to choose from!  What inspires you to write?

I don’t know if I am inspired to write so much as COMPELLED. I have actually tried giving up writing many times, only to find myself creating stories whilst washing up or cleaning the loo. I just can’t help myself!!!

JRR: It’s beause that is what you are MEANT to do!  It’s your calling!  Now, what does your writing process consist of?

I try not to write, because I am a writer and therefore it’s more difficult for me than most people! No seriously, I always believe one’s best writing is done by thinking. This means I like to research – A LOT! If I am not researching, I like to go for long walks and make notes on my phone as I go; I will listen to music at the same time. I live in Devon, UK so there are plenty of beautiful places to do this. Trees help me write. Thanks trees!

JRR:  What made you choose to write suspense/thrillers? What is your favorite book and/or movie of this genre?

I actually write in lots of different genres/styles, but I chose suspense thrillers because it’s ultimately what I love to read. I read more mysteries – especially those set in or around the home – than any other kind of book. Like many writers, it was Gone Girl that prompted me to try my hand in this genre. I love Gillian Flynn’s writing and the renewed interest in the domestic setting made me think about what I could bring to the storyworld through my love of diverse characters and social media … So I came up with my debut, The Other Twin!

JRR: Where did the idea for Do No Harm come from?

Like Lily, I was a single mother ‘back in the day’ and I had many friends who were single mums, too. Finding the ‘right’ new partner when there is a child in the house is no mean feat. Add an ex-partner into the mix who does not want to let go makes it EVEN more difficult! I have experience with this, as do some of my friends and let’s just say that most of what happens stem from REAL events, stitched together!

JRR: Did you base any character off anyone you know? Or maybe because of the type of novel it is this is an answer better left unanswered…

Haha yes, no thank you! 😉

JRR: If you could have dinner with three people (living or dead) who would they be and why?

Ooooh goodness, again – so hard to choose. I think Maya Angelou, because she was a great inspiration to me when I was a teenage mother. I think I would also like Clive Barker at this dinner party, because his writing really kept me going as a teen and of course Prince, who is an utter genius and whose music I listen to every single day.

JRR:  Good choices!  Which book have you always meant to get around to reading, but still not read?

Secret History by Donna Tart. Everyone seems to have read it except me! Ooops …

JRR: I havent, so you aren’t the only one to not read it yet! 😉 What’s the best advice you have ever received?

‘Ignore all advice … except for the good stuff. You’ll know it when you hear it.’ I wish I could remember who said this to me, or where I read it, but it’s GOLD!

JRR: Thank you so much for your time with this interview!


About the Author:

Lucy V. Hay is a novelist, script editor and blogger who helps writers via her Bang2write consultancy. Do No Harm is out now and her crime debut for Orenda Books The Other Twin, has been featured in The Sun and Sunday Express Newspapers, plus Heatworld and Closer Magazine. Check out all her books, here.

Here is the entire blog tour:

First Line Friday #78

Today’s First Line Friday is one by an author I interviewed earlier this year: Gemma Metcalfe.  She has had a great 2018: a new book and a baby on the way!! I’m so excited for you Gemma! And I *promise* I will read your books soon! My interview with Gemma is here.

Before I share the first line with you, here is the book trailer for a Mother’s Sacrifice:

The woman’s nightdress blew against her bare legs as she made her way towards the bridge.

God ensured she crossed my path. And that is why I chose her.

The day Louisa and James bring their newborn son home from the hospital marks a new beginning for all of them. To hold their child in their arms, makes all the stress and trauma of fertility treatment worth it. Little Cory is theirs and theirs alone. Or so they think…

After her mother’s suicide when she was a child, Louisa’s life took an even darker turn. But meeting James changed everything. She can trust him to protect her, and to never leave her. Even if deep down, she worries that she has never told him the full truth about her past, or the truth about their baby.

But someone knows all her secrets – and that person is watching and waiting, with a twisted game that will try to take everything Louisa holds dear.

Purchase Links:
Amazon US

Amazon UK

 

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The Death of Mrs. Westaway

Author: Ruth Ware
Published: May 29, 2018
Audiobook

Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Read: July 2-20, 2018
Jessica’s Rating: 3 stars

Book Description:

On a day that begins like any other, Hal receives a mysterious letter bequeathing her a substantial inheritance. She realizes very quickly that the letter was sent to the wrong person—but also that the cold-reading skills she’s honed as a tarot card reader might help her claim the money.

Soon, Hal finds herself at the funeral of the deceased…where it dawns on her that there is something very, very wrong about this strange situation and the inheritance at the centre of it.

Jessica’s Review:

The premise of Mrs. Westaway had me intrigued and I could not wait to read it!  I was able to get it on audio from my library.  There is nothing wrong with Ware’s writing, in fact I love it, but I just did not connect with Hal. She is dealing with hard times financially and once she gets this letter she plans on conning the family as she is not the intended recipient of the inheritance. She shows up and then things just get out of hand. “Don’t Lie!” should be the moral here.

It is a character driven novel with a gothic feel to it. There are many mysteries occurring throughout the novel.  What kept me reading was that I wanted to know what was going to ultimately happen.  When the twists occurred, I didn’t really feel anything, due to my lack of connection with Hal.  If I had connected with Hal I am sure I would have loved this novel. When it was over I did not really know how to feel: The mysteries were solved, but I still am not sure how I feel about the direction taken.

Imogene Church has narrated all of Ware’s novels and I love her! She narrates the novels wonderfully.  My favorite Ware novel is The Woman in Cabin 10.  All of her novels are character driven, so be prepared for a slow moving novel (Which I do not mean in a negative way) all the way up to the conclusion.

Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK

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